primers for .223/5.56 and H335

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willymc

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I’m setting up to reload for my S&W M&P15 Sport , 5.56. I have a couple pounds of H335 that I use for my .35 Remington. In my reloading stuff I found 1,000 Remington 6 ½ (small rifle) primers. I was wondering if I could use those for loading 55 grain fmj over the H335. I checked my loading manuals. Speer #10 says magnum primers. Lee #2 says small rifle primers. Lyman #49 says Remington 7 ½ (small rifle magnum). The Hodgdon website does not specify. Can the Remington 6 ½ primers be used for my application?
 
The 6 1/2 is designed for small cases like .22 Hornet. It is not really suited for .223, especially in an auto.
 
NO.
Remington 6 ½ (small rifle) primers were intended for low pressure centerfire calibers like the .22 Hornet / .218 Bee. They are softer, or thinner, or something.


They are not to be used in .223, and especially in a semi-auto rifle like yours.
There should be a warning printed on the box.

rc
 
Thanks! I knew I could get the straight scoop here. Are there any other handgun/rifle cal., beside .22 hornet/.218 bee, that I can use these primers in? I may have to go out and buy myself one. I hate to waste anything.
 
They would make great small pistol primers I betcha!

Just work up the load as usual.

rc
 
Like said above, NO, don't use Rem 6 1/2 primers in .223 ammo. You can and should use Rem 7 1/2 primers which are rated for 223/5.56 ammo.
 
I don't recommend it.

But if I had 1,000 of them to use up, and nothing to use them up in?
I bet they would!

Thats why I said they could be used that way.

Just work up your load as normal any time you switch primers, like from standard to magnum.

rc
 
I have used 6-1/2s in .38SPL rounds and could not tell any difference between them and SPPs. I've used them in lightly loaded .223 as well, but I don't anymore. Never had a pierce but don't need to risk it.
 
Not to hijack thread,Just used CCI 41 small rifles for 5.56(mil spec?) What is difference,harder cups than normal CCI ? thanks
 
Thanks for the warning. I never used small rifle primers before until getting a 6.8SPC (originally only large primer, but now a couple brands use small) and .223 in the last couple of years. Just went out and checked, and one box of small rifle primers I have is Rem. 6-1/2. Didn't know about the difference. Fortunately it has remained unused with everything loaded to date with Winchester small rifle primers. Guess I'll be trying to work up some new loads in .38 Special now.:eek:
 
As rcmodel posted, it is more pressure than size, and intended for bolt guns, not autos.
 
Remington's website used to counsel against using the 6 1/2 in .223/5.56 and said use the 7 1.2 instead. However, I can't find it on the present site.
 
I just finished 1,000 Remington 2 1/2s in my AR.
Sounds like we ain't 'sposed to do that.

Outta that 1k, I had 1 or 2 that were pierced, but that's it.

Had some plain ol dumb luck.
I bought Tula 223 primers on my last order.
 
I'm in the exact same boat, and initiated a thread a month or so ago on the topic. Not knowing better, I bought the primers back when Obummer got his first gun salesman of the year award.

I loaded 55 gr. FMJBTs over 25 grain of H335 an in the first box Of 20 I loaded and fired, I had several with deep primer indents, and one that may have been ever so slightly pierced.

So I proceeded to load .357 mag with ~13 gr of 2400 and a 158 gr JSP. Most fired just fine, but In the first box of 50 I loaded and fired, I got two light primer strike FTFires (even after multiple pokes) in a revolver that has NEVER had a light strike FTF in 20 years. This could well have been due to not seating the primers all the way.... but shouldn't the FP poke have fully seated the primer so it detonated on the next poke?

Perhaps I should list them on GB for $100 a brick ;)
 
Good to know I guess, but I have shot 200 or more .223 with 6-1/2 RP primers with no pierced primers and my boxes have no warning on them about .223 or semiauto? My loads are mid range in LC brass with 55 g hornady SXSP.
I can always go back to WSRs
 
I've laoded tens of thousands of rounds for my ARs and .223 bolt rifle, using standard small rifle primers. Currently using Wolf/Tula. Also use small rifle primers for all my 9mm reloadng, with excellent results. I'm loading now with 844, which is loaded to H335 load info.
 
You can always go back in time and read this thread which will pretty much parallel what is being covered here.

Now if you look at what Remington has to say they claim:

Warning:
Remington does not recommend this primer for use in the 17 Remington, 222 Remington, 223 Remington, 204 Ruger, 17 Remington Fireball. Use the 7-1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest primer in these cartridges.

This 6-1/2 Small Rifle primer is primarily designed for use in the 22 Hornet.
Click to expand...

So will they work? Yes and likely just fine. Would I recommend using the 6 1/2 for loads better suited for a 7 1/2? Nope. My Nope is only because in the unlikely scenario something did go wrong, I don't want to catch the blame. Thus making it your call based on all the information provided.

Ron
 
In addition to the above caution about Remington's small reifle primers in .223 rounds, there is a caution about using their small pistol primers in .40 and 357. Their warning, on the box, is in very small print.

Personally, I use CCI 41 in my .223 rounds.
 
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